The Rundown: Janelle Monae, Electric Lady
A track-by-track look at the ArchAndroid's latest.
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The Rundown: Janelle Monáe, The Electric Lady - With the immense critical success of her first two LPs, psychedelic soulster Janelle Monáe managed to not only become the face of CoverGirl makeup but the unsung face of cutting-edge R&B. Now she is poised for major crossover into the limelight with the release of her third album, The Electric Lady. Check out this track-by-track snapshot of Monáe's latest masterpiece. (Photo: Atlantic Records)
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"Suite IV: Electric Overture" - Monáe's third LP opens with James Bond-like instrumentation, replete with lush strings and a majestic choir of voices. Brief, but it makes the point that a magnum opus has begun. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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"Give Em What They Love" featuring Prince - Monáe and Prince combine forces, rocking out over a simmering guitar riff and singing about giving folks what they love. (Photos from left: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images, Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)
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"Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu - For this melodic synth-n-guitar laced cut, the arch-android teams with Ms. Badu to celebrate being the type of woman that doesn't follow the rules of convention. It's about being from left field and taking a stand for the people. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for BET)
Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for BET
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"Electric Lady" featuring Solange - This track takes us on a mid-'80s inspired intergalactic trip to an outerspace party led by Monáe, who is accompanied by singer/DJ Solange. Add a touch of go-go timbales and this song gets a "spine to unwind." (Photos from left: Jim Dyson/Getty Images, Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
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"PrimeTime" featuring Miguel - Over this smoldering track, Miguel and Monáe trade his and her versions of the same verses, which delve into the intertwining of love, lovemaking and creativity. (Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)
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"We Were Rock and Roll" - Part funk pop and part funk gospel-fest, this track finds Monáe getting into her solo groove, crooning down memory lane and remembering the early days when inspiration made her feel invincible. (Photo: John Ricard/Getty Images for BET)
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"Dance Apocalyptic" - This track mines mid-'80s dance pop like Whitney Houston or Aretha Franklin (think anything produced by Narada Michael Walden) and '40s swing jazz. But Monáe gets a boost, adding her own swag to the mix. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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"Look Into My Eyes" - Gliding on this Flamenco-inspired track, Monáe dolls her voice in an elegant '30s chanteuse style and drifts on the subject of deep love. (Photo: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images)
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"Suite V: Electric Overture" - Using the same lush orchestration here as she did for the intro, this indulgent cut eventually segues nicely into a samba rhythm and then on to an Austin Powers-ish ending. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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"It's Code" - Infused with the elegant funkiness of early '70s love R&B, this track finds Monáe sounding a bit like a young Michael Jackson and singing about needing amor that she's taken for granted. (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)
Photo By (Photo: Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)
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"Ghetto Woman" - Monáe offers ghetto women inspiration to "carry on" by dipping into Stevie Wonder's orchestral dance melody and chord changes (think "Brighter Star"). "Even in your darkest hours I still see your light," she sings. (Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images for Bud Light)
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"Victory" - On this track Monáe sings of fighting against life on the ropes. Accompanied by a rolling snare and piano mix, the diva's voice soars as she croons, "To be victorious you must find the lovely in the little things." (Photo: Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images)
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"Can't Live Without Your Love" - This cut extracts the essence of Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It," with Monáe belting out her undying feelings for a special someone. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images for BMI)
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"Sally Ride" - Monáe draws from blues-rock for this song, where she's belting out an ode to being a spirited woman who needs to find stability and inner peace. (Photo: WENN)
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"Dorothy Dandridge Eyes" featuring Esperanza Spalding - The black-and-white dressed singer is joined by Esperanza Spalding on this smooth jazz cut. On it, Monáe flattens out her vocals to sing the praises of a hypnotically beautiful woman who dazzles folks with her eyes. (Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images, Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images for Smithsonian Magazine)